Load Data vs Easy Import - which is better?

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Tadz
Tera Guru
Tera Guru

‎12-16-2019 02:23 AM

Hi Everyone,

I need your opinions on which is better between Load Data vs Easy Import.

Load Data:

  1. Needs to create a staging table (if not in place)
  2. Needs to create a transform map (if not in place)

Easy Import:

  1. Select Between Insert and Update
  2. Can download the excel template
  3. Has validation

Base on my comparison, Easy Import is much better.

But I would like to get your opinion on this.

Also on when to use Load Data vs Easy Import

 

Thanks!

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AbhishekGardade
Giga Sage

‎12-16-2019 02:41 AM

Hello Tadz,

Easy Imports Limitations

1 .Only admins can use easy import.

2. With domain separation, imported data will go to global/tab domain.you need to map domain field in template 

3. Sometimes template size can be bigger so it will take much time to load that may cause to halt the ServiceNow for you

Load Data:

1. You can give access to any user to load data based on role

2. You can define coalesce on 1 or many fields. Also you can define colease to any field other than sys_id

3. Import Only column those required.

4. You can have history of which records gets updated, inserted,deleted, skippes etc.

5. Sometimes you need to import reference field data, in that case, you need to find of the sys_id from table and then you need to map to field.

6. You can decide whether to create/ignore reference field/ choice field values.

7. Sometimes you need to set values based on other field values from excel in that case you can use transform scripts and make it more preferable

Please mark as Correct Answer and Helpful, if applicable.
Thanks!
Abhishek Gardade
Hexaware Technologies

 

 

Thank you,
Abhishek Gardade

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AbhishekGardade
Giga Sage
In response to Tadz

‎12-16-2019 05:23 AM

Hello Tadz,

Can we add data validation for Load Data + Transform map specially on reference fields.

Yes, you can add validation on load data,If you are uploading any value reference field, then you can decide whether to create new record on referance table or ignore it. See below Image

find_real_file.png

 

In Choice Action, You can decide what you want to do, you have options like, Create, Ignore and Reject, that means you can decide what to do with reference  field value.

Refer this document by ServicNow,

Create a field map

Please mark as Correct Answer and Helpful, if applicable.
Thanks!
Abhishek Gardade
Hexaware Technologie

Thank you,
Abhishek Gardade
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Dubz
Mega Sage

‎12-16-2019 02:42 AM

I guess it depends on what you're doing. If you've got the data in a templated format and you're just looking to do a one off import into a table then using the easy import feature is probably, as the name suggests, the easiest option. 

If you're looking to do scheduled imports or if you have transformations required on your import like looking up a reference value based on something other than the display value or using a script to set an assignment group or something, then an import set is the way to go.

Import sets are more labour intensive to create (although you'll have to be very thorough to ensure all the data in your easy import is correctly formatted) but once the transform map is in place the hard work is done and you can automate how the transform deals with exceptions and data errors. 

Basically i'd take the time to set up a transform map in most cases, the only time i've ever had cause to import data directly into a table it's been from a pre-prod instance to production and it's only been group memberships or something. In those cases i've just exported the data to XML and imported that.